Figurine sweeps toy

ABSTRACT

A figure sweeps toy has a suspension device, a figurine underneath the suspension device, and a brush or broom suspended from the suspension device. The brush or broom contains a first sports team logo, and the figurine contains a second sports team logo, with the first sports team logo different from the second sports team logo. The brush or broom further contains bristles extending from the bottom of the brush or broom to the top of the figurine. As the brush or broom sways, the bristles brush or sweep the top of the figurine.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a toy figurine.

BACKGROUND

Traditional toy figurines, specifically bobble head dolls, often represent a specific sports team or a specific player on a sports team. In most instances a fan will own the bobble head doll of their favorite team or favorite player. Oftentimes, bobble head dolls are sold, or given away, to fans at sporting events. However, when a first team play a series of games against a second team, and either the first team or the second team wins every single game in that series, this is considered a sweep. During the sweep of a team, fans are often seen waving brooms and brushes to signal that their team is about to, or has swept another team. There currently does not exist a bobble head doll that signifies the sweep by one team over another.

Therefore, the need exists for a toy figurine that signifies the sweep by a team.

SUMMARY

It is to be understood that both the following summary and the detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. Neither the summary nor the description that follows is intended to define or limit the scope of the invention to the particular features mentioned in the summary or in the description. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

In certain embodiments, the disclosed embodiments may include one or more of the features described herein.

In various embodiments, a new apparatus provides for toy figurine that signifies the sweep of one sports team by another sports team. The toy figurine includes a figure and a brush in close proximity to and configured to contact the figure. The brush is configured such that shaking the toy figurine moves the brush back and forth over the figure, and/or causes a bobbling portion of the figure to shake, so that the brush appears to be brushing or sweeping the figure. Thus, in one embodiment, the brush is positioned directly over a bobble head figure's head.

The brush may be any type of brush or broom with bristles or similar, in proportion to the overall size of the toy figurine, and may for example be hung above the figure in contact with the figure's head. Alternatively, the brush can be positioned close to, but not in contact with the figure, for example just over the figure's head. Shaking the toy figurine still causes the brush and/or figure to move, giving a sweeping appearance, although without direct contact. This can be advantageous, as contact with the figure can disrupt the smooth sweeping motion of the brush, if the brush and figure are not positioned to a high degree of precision with respect to one another taking into account the brush type, etc. For typical bobble head-size figures, the brush should be within about 1.5″ of the figure in order to adequately convey the sweeping of the figure.

A new apparatus in various embodiments has a plurality of elements, including a figurine and suspension device. The figurine may be a toy figure that replicates a player on a specific sports team, or may be the mascot of a specific sports team. The figurine may be any toy figure, including a bobble head doll. The suspension device may be an arch, or other structure, large enough to allow a bobble head doll, or other toy figure, to be placed underneath the suspension device. The suspension device may also be an enclosure made of acrylic or plastic, that enables one to see inside the enclosure, but protects the contents inside.

Moreover, the apparatus further comprises a brush or broom. The brush or broom may be shaped and sized appropriately for a large sports team logo to be placed on it, for example a large flat surface works well for this purpose. This brush or broom may hang from the suspension device so that the bristles appear to be in contact with the figure below. The brush or broom may be suspended freely from the suspension device, allowing the brush or broom to sway back and forth, giving the appearance of sweeping the figure below the brush or broom. The suspension of the brush or broom from the suspension device may be via a spring hook, a cord, a string, or other similar means. Furthermore, the brush or broom may contain a sports team logo and the bobble head doll, or figurine, may contain a different sports team logo. The logo on the brush or broom may indicate the team that swept, or is about to sweep, another team. The logo on the figurine, or bobble head doll, may indicate the team that was, or is about to be, swept by another team.

These and further and other objects and features of the invention are apparent in the disclosure, which includes the above and ongoing written specification, with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, further serve to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use these embodiments and others that will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention will be more particularly described in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a figurine sweeps toy.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A new figurine will now be disclosed in terms of various exemplary embodiments. This specification discloses one or more embodiments that incorporate features of the invention. The embodiment(s) described, and references in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment(s) described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. When a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, persons skilled in the art may affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

In the several figures, like reference numerals may be used for like elements having like functions even in different drawings. The embodiments described, and their detailed construction and elements, are merely provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Thus, it is apparent that the present invention can be carried out in a variety of ways, and does not require any of the specific features described herein. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention with unnecessary detail.

The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a front view of a figurine sweeps toy 8. An enclosure 1 is fixed to a base 9, which includes a message 10, here “Sweem 'Em”. Message 10 can also include a sports logo or the name of one or more sports teams (e.g. “Sweem 'Em Sox!”), or be another similar message. The enclosure may screw into the base with threads 11, or in another embodiment snap over a rim on the base, and be easily removable. A bobble head doll 2 is positioned inside the enclosure 1. The bobble head doll 2 contains a logo of a second sports team 6, and the bobble head doll 2 may be a replica of an actual player. The bobble head doll 2 may be simply placed on the base 9 and not fixed, in which case the bobble head doll 2 can be easily swapped out (and reused for various opposing teams on different occasions), or it may be temporarily or permanently affixed to the base 9, for example with adhesive or a mechanical fastener.

Within the enclosure 1 is a brush or broom 3 that is suspended from the top of the enclosure 1. Extending from the bottom of the brush or broom 3 are bristles 5, which extend to and over the head of the bobble head doll 2. Displayed on the brush or broom 3 is a logo of a first sports team 4. The logo of a first sports team 4 is different from the logo of a second sports team 6. The brush or broom 3 is suspended by two strings 7, which allow the brush or broom 3 to suspend freely from the top of the enclosure 1. By having the brush or broom 3 suspended freely from the top of enclosure 1, the brush or broom 3 may sway back and forth, and from side to side, signifying a sweeping motion of the bristles 5 over the head of bobble head doll 2. By placing a bobble head doll within the enclosure, the doll can be transformed from a toy that represents the team the owner is rooting for to a toy representing the team the owner is rooting against.

The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described above in detail. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other arrangements could be devised, for example, using various brush or broom hanging materials, connections, and configurations utilizing similar principles. Various figurines and sports team logos can be used to serve a similar purpose in the invention. The invention encompasses every possible combination of the various features of each embodiment disclosed. While the invention has been described with reference to specific illustrative embodiments, modifications and variations of the invention may be constructed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. An apparatus, comprising: an at least partially clear enclosure wherein the enclosure is configured to display objects within; a figurine positioned within the enclosure; and a brush or broom inside the enclosure in close proximity to the figurine, comprising a set of bristles attached to the brush or broom and pointing towards the figurine, wherein the brush or broom is configured for relative motion between the bristles and a part of the figurine when the enclosure is shaken.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a spring hook attached to the top of the enclosure, from which the brush or broom is suspended.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the brush or broom is suspended from the top of the enclosure.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the figurine is a sports bobble head doll.
 5. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the sports bobble head doll is a replication of a sports figure.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the brush or broom contains an image.
 7. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the image displays a logo of a first sports team.
 8. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the figurine contains a logo of a second sports team.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bristles contact the figurine.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bristles are within 1.5 inches of the figurine's head or bobbling portion.
 11. An apparatus for a figurine, comprising: a suspension device; a figurine positioned underneath the suspension device; and a brush or broom suspended from the suspension device, comprising a set of bristles attached to the bottom of the brush or broom and in close proximity to the figurine, wherein the brush or broom is configured for relative motion between the bristles and a part of the figurine when the enclosure is shaken.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a hook attached to the top of the suspension device, from which the brush or broom is suspended.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the figurine is a sports bobble head doll.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sports bobble head doll is a replication of a sports figure.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the brush or broom contains an image.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the image displays a logo of a first sports team.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the figurine contains a logo of a second sports team.
 18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the bristles contact the figurine.
 19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the bristles are within 1.5 inches of the figurine's head or bobbling portion. 